Who do you think will be the next pope?

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Speaking of betting, would it be a safe bet to posit which side of the “division” you fall on? 🤔
 
If you get the chance to speak with your friends in Rome, then you should.

It’s fascinating and concerning in equal measure.
I have friends across the spectrum. Those who are liberal are happy, but also quite anxious to be seen to be ‘in’. They police one another’s every word and stance. It reminds me of the jostling for position (and survival) at the medieval court. They do seem to be quite exhausted by the effort but, like the conservatives, see this as a transitional period, and that it won’t be like this ‘in the end’.
The conservatives are an odd bunch and hard to categorize. They always have one foot in and one out. They want to commit, but can’t. They are a very small group disliked by liberal and traditionalist alike. They know they are finished for now, and just speak of waiting out the Francis storm for the next Benedict XVI.
The traditionalists are a different matter. They have a very good grasp of what’s going on, and this has motivated quite a dynamic reaction.
There is a definite pall of fear in Rome among liberals and moderates, as they have everything to lose. Use the wrong vocabulary; praise the wrong prelate; bring up the wrong subject, and you’re one of ‘them’ and persona non grata.
The traditionalists know they are locked in a struggle with those who, frankly, despise them. And with a very well defined enemy/ battle to fight, they are coming out strongly.
Whether it’s the stridency or not, I don’t know, but they have certainly gathered an awful lot of fence sitters and are much stronger than you may imagine.

This is the group that may well break.
 
Silly me, jumping to a conclusion based on reading a few posts (three to be exact, oops now four).
 
UGCC said:
People may not like to hear this, but Francis is very much a ruthless politician. He is also a very accomplished one. No doubt, this was born of necessity in the Argentine context.
Francis does not share power - he delegates to those who carry out his will to the letter.

You may see this as either good or bad. Necessary under the circumstances, or despotic. But the fairy-tale Francis who’s simple and just wants to share power does not exist. The fact you think he does is a testament to his own political savvy.
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Do you think this is different from any of his predecessors?

The only example I can think of offhand is Cardinal Sarah, when he delayed issuing instructions on foot washing. If Francis did not want to share power, he never would have asked Sarah. When he learned Sarah was not doing what was asked of him, he made sure it was done “to the letter.” Who would have done anything differently?

I appreciate your insights on the Vatican, but I doubt that there is as much division there as there was under Pius XII. The campaign against modernism of the early 20th century, combined with the world wars, created serious problems inside the Vatican. Today’s divisions are a lingering shadow of those conflicts

Maybe the next Pope will be John XXIV, not Francis II.
 
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There has never been division such as this in my lifetime. Prior to that - I daresay there was.

Whether there is as much division now as at the height of Pius XII’s pontificate will not affect the current context. The world and the values of those who inhabit it are vastly different - both inside and outside the Church.

Anything is possible with God, but the most likely outcome is another in the mould of Francis from what I see and hear.

Plus XII, again, as with JPII & B16, was more even handed - think Holy Week 1951 & his changes to the approach to Biblical studies. Both conservative and liberal had their beefs and bonuses, defeats and victories under him.

As for his will being carried out to the letter. I agree with you. But my point was that the majority of people seem to be under the impression that he differs from his predecessors in this. You are correct - he doesn’t. There’s a great deal more continuity than either side would like to admit.

Good talking to you.
 
The man who gets the most votes at the next papal conclave. 😀.

I got that type of answer from my dad, who would sometimes respond to my question of which team was going to win a sports contest with, “the team with the most points at the end of the game”.

In all seriousness, my guess is that the next pope will be more conservative than Pope Francis… just a guess.
 
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A fair amount. There are some reputable prophecies concerning his appearance along with an equally great Pope.
 
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I’ve been following the prophecies regarding the Pope and the monarch, including Nostradamus, Hindus, Mayans, Hopi Indians, and Islam. Looking at all of these seems to contradict each other in various ways. I definitely believe the Catholic private revelation. Although, some of that is vague.
I believe the two are now walking the earth.
I don’t believe some of the commentary from some of those who are trying to interpret what it will be like when they appear.
One commentary states that they fear the two will be like the Antichrist. This is absolutely false.
 
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No idea, hopefully an African one. They have liturgical dance AND they’re theologically conservative. The future of the Church is Africa, and I am just fine with that.
 
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